Hassan gives Chinese leaders blunt talk on fentanyl threat
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Oct. 17—U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said she had a blunt response after Chinese leaders expressed concern that the American people and its political leaders were "turning against them" over that country's link to opioid deaths in America.
"I said, '90% of the precursor materials to fentanyl being brought here is coming from the black market in your country and it's killing people in New Hampshire and across our country,'" Hassan said during a telephone interview.
"What would you think my constituents think about China right now?"
Hassan was one of six senators, and the only woman, to make the first congressional trip to China since 2019, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York.
The group included three Senate Democrats and three Republican senators.
In China, the delegation met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji, Foreign Minister and Director of the Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi as well as Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.
Along with addressing fentanyl, Hassan said the other goal of this mission for the American contingent was to press China about providing a "level playing field" for American businesses.
Hassan said the initial narrative of Chinese leaders was they thought they addressed the fentanyl problem by agreeing to list it as an opioid in 2019.
The move all but eliminated the direct shipping of fentanyl from China to the U.S.
"In our initial meeting with Chinese officials this time around, they seem to take the position the actions they had taken on fentanyl were enough," Hassan said.
Hassan: Drug cartels exploiting black market
But Mexican drug gangs and other cartels were obtaining the raw materials from China and making them into fentanyl that is then smuggled over the border into the U.S., she said.
"The cartels had changed their tactics after China stopped shipping fentanyl directly," Hassan said.
"They are now exploiting a black market in China, and during this visit they needed to hear us make the case that this was not acceptable."
Hassan said she was encouraged by President Xi's response.
"President Xi said he was open to look into establishing a senior level task force to communicate directly with U.S. officials regarding the problem of precursor materials," Hassan said.
"There was no actual promise there, but that willingness is the most they have shown over the last 19 months to address this issue. Of course, the proof is always in the pudding."
Hassan said the group brought with them several examples of individual, American companies that China had sanctioned without providing any reasoning for it.
"We weren't going to accept unfair trade practices and American businesses are beginning to wonder whether China is investible," Hassan said.
"We expect them to have the same transparent processes of American companies doing business in China as we provide Chinese companies doing business in America."
The same day the U.S. senators arrived, China's commerce ministry said new U.S. restrictions placed on 42 Chinese companies were "a typical act of economic coercion and unilateral bullying."
The U.S. Commerce Department said these companies supplied "U.S.-origin" semiconductors that Russia uses for missile guidance systems and drones in the war against Ukraine.
While China's economy is struggling, Hassan said the country's leaders realize they need American business.
"Almost 25% of their youth are unemployed, and they are seeing a softening of their real estate market; they do know the importance of their (American) investment in China," Hassan said.
The Senate will consider legislation to protect American markets in the manufacture of electric vehicles, Hassan said.
The delegation arrived in China the same day as the vicious attacks against Israeli citizens by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
Schumer led the U.S. response that chastised Chinese officials for an initial statement that failed to mention the atrocities committed against Israeli citizens.
"Its first statement really had false equivalency and, in some ways, sided with Hamas," Hassan said.
Mao Ning, the Chinese foreign ministry, issued a second statement regretting the casualties.
"China is closely following the recent escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel. We are deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians," Ning said.
"China opposes escalating the conflict and destabilizing the region. This position is consistent. We hope parties will stop the fighting and restore peace as soon as possible, and we hope relevant parties in the international community will jointly help de-escalate the situation."
Hassan said she was glad to see the Chinese amend their remarks.
Several published accounts noted during this visit Chinese officials never mentioned the name "Hamas" in their remarks, part of a clear strategy of the Chinese not wanting to offend the Arab world.
Yet Israel is an important trade customer with China, importing up to $1 billion a year worth of semiconductors.
The group also traveled to South Korea to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol.
They discussed continued cooperation on national security and critical technologies such as the manufacture of semiconductor chips, she said.
Due to the violence in Israel and the need to return to the U.S., Hassan said the group cut its trip short by one day in China and canceled a planned stop in Japan.
